Buchloë is a monotypic genus of the central plains of North America.
It is usually dioecious, infrequently monoecious, or rarely synoecious. On the
basis of his molecular studies, Columbus (1999) recommended including it and
several other small, usually monoecious or dioecious genera in Bouteloua.
Morphologically, the segregate genera differ from Bouteloua only in their
pistillate panicles and spikelets and their reproductive mode, but not in their
vegetative and staminate structures. Buchloë is maintained here
pending corroboration from other studies.

Buchloë dactyloides is a frequent dominant on upland portions of
the semi-arid, shortgrass component of the Great Plains, ranging from the southern
prairie provinces of Canada through the desert southwest of the United States
to much of northern Mexico. Collections from east of the Mississippi River and
south of the Ohio River probably represent recent introductions.

Buchloë dactyoides provides valuable forage for
livestock and wildlife, and withstands heavy grazing. It may be confused in
the southern portion of its range with Hilaria
belangeri, which consistently has pilose nodes, or in the Big Bend region
of Texas with Cathestecum erectum,
which has three spikelets per node and distinctly awned lemmas.